Layton promises $165M for more doctors, nurses

SUDBURY, Ont. — NDP leader Jack Layton said Friday he would immediately pump $165 million into health care to boost the number of doctors and nurses practising medicine in Canada.

Over the next decade, Layton hopes to add 1,200 new doctors and over the next six years, he’ll add 6,000 new nurses, according to a plan he unveiled Friday in Sudbury on Day 7 of the federal election campaign.

“We need a prime minister with a vision for health care that will ensure today’s needs are met — as well as those of future generations,” he said.

“As prime minister, I’ll work with the provinces and territories to ensure that your family’s health care needs are met.” Layton said he’ll also adopt a recommendation from the Canadian Medical Association to create a fund to help repatriate Canadian doctors practising abroad.

His plan would also forgive student loans for health-care professionals who agree to practise family medicine for at least 10 years and it would streamline the accreditation process for foreign-trained doctors.

The funding breakdown 2011-2012:

$25M for training.

$20M for repatriating Canadian doctors from abroad and accrediting foreign-trained doctors in Canada.

$40M for an equity program to recruit and support low-income, rural and aboriginal medical students.